In a heartbreaking account of survival, nine-year-old Odai Shanah has described the terror he experienced during a shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego. The young student, who attends school at the center, shared the harrowing details of a Monday morning that left the community in shock.
Odai recalled the moment gunshots echoed through the building, forcing him and his trembling classmates to huddle together in a closet for safety. As SWAT teams moved through the facility room by room to secure the area and clear the building, the children were eventually evacuated—a process that Odai remembers vividly as they were led past the bodies of the victims.
The physical and emotional toll of the ordeal has been profound. Reflecting on the intensity of the moment, Odai described the immediate aftermath of the trauma, stating, "My legs were shaking and my hands and my head were like hurting a lot; I felt like a rock."
The experience is particularly poignant given Odai's family background; his mother is a refugee from Gaza and his father emigrated from Jordan. His story serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of educational and religious spaces and the lasting impact of violence on the youngest members of society.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
